Cluster: Democracy

‘Switzerland is definitely not a colony of the EU’

This content was published on Feb 25, 2014 On February 9, voters approved a move by the Swiss People’s Party to reintroduce quotas and have a national preference when filling job vacancies. It also stipulates that Switzerland will have to renegotiate its bilateral accord with the EU on the free movement of people within three years or revoke it. swissinfo.ch: Reaction from Brussels…

Democracy

Is Swiss university prowess in jeopardy?

This content was published on Feb 20, 2014 Universities recently learned that their participation in the European Union’s Horizon2020 funding programme, as well as the Erasmus Europe-wide student exchange, could be withdrawn after the immigration vote, which calls for a re-negotiation of the free movement of people agreement with the European Union. University rectors have sent a letter to the Swiss government expressing…

Democracy

Immigration: one vote, many questions

This content was published on Feb 20, 2014 Who is affected by the curb on immigration? The amendment to the federal constitution requires upper limits and annual quotas for immigrants. This could affect every foreigner who wants to move to Switzerland: EU citizens, workers from third (non-EU) states, cross-border workers and asylum seekers. Will there also be consequences for foreigners already living in…

Democracy

After 20 years, Alpine truck traffic still not on track

This content was published on Feb 20, 2014 On that night of February 20, 1994, then-transport minister Adolf Ogi must have had trouble getting to sleep. The nation’s voters had just accepted the “Alpine Initiative”. The “yes” side had won with 51.9% of the votes and 19 cantons out of 26, and the popular Swiss People’s Party politician had just acquired the dubious distinction,…

Democracy

Racism watchdog calls immigration vote a ‘setback’

This content was published on Feb 19, 2014 Sabine Simkhovitch-Dreyfus, vice-president of the Federal Commission against Racism, spoke to swissinfo.ch on the day Switzerland defended its race relations record before the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in Geneva as part of a regular country review. Drawing on the findings, she examines the impact of the recent vote in favour of…

Democracy

Minister seeks damage limitation after immigration vote

This content was published on Feb 18, 2014 Burkhalter, who acts as Swiss president this year, held talks in Berlin and Paris on Tuesday to explain the government’s refusal to sign a labour market accord with new EU member Croatia as a result of the ballot on February 9. He pledged to find a solution to apply the vote result which is not…

Democracy

EU freezes Switzerland out of research funds

This content was published on Feb 17, 2014 The Swiss government confirmed at the weekend that, as a result of the vote, it would not sign an already agreed deal to grant Croatian job seekers access to Switzerland. The European Commission responded by putting the research and education talks on ice. Participation in the €94.7 billion (CHF115 billion) Horizon 2020 and Erasmus+ projects…

Democracy

Swiss won’t sign Croatia free movement deal

This content was published on Feb 16, 2014 A spokesman told the Swiss news agency that the deal could not be signed “in its current form” after the February 9 vote in favour of curbing EU immigration. The two countries had agreed the free movement deal in summer 2013, shortly after Croatia joined the EU. Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga called Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna…

Democracy

Vote is “wrong therapy” for a complex problem

This content was published on Feb 16, 2014 But the country is now faced with the decision of either accepting the economic consequences of its isolation or admitting that this image no longer tallies with reality, the Zurich University emeritus professor said. French-speaking Switzerland came out against the initiative, meaning that it now has to accept a decision made by the German-speaking part, which…

Democracy

Immigration vote remains front and centre

This content was published on Feb 15, 2014

Cluster: Democracy

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Cluster: Democracy

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‘Switzerland is definitely not a colony of the EU’

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Is Swiss university prowess in jeopardy?

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Immigration: one vote, many questions

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After 20 years, Alpine truck traffic still not on track

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Racism watchdog calls immigration vote a ‘setback’

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Minister seeks damage limitation after immigration vote

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EU freezes Switzerland out of research funds

More

Swiss won’t sign Croatia free movement deal

More

Vote is “wrong therapy” for a complex problem

More

Immigration vote remains front and centre

Popular Stories

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